The Mavericks have one shot at building right around Cooper Flagg, and the Thunder have already proven that tanking works.
The Dallas Mavericks organization and their fan base have endured serious heartbreak and pain over the past year, and the only way to find future success is by tanking and prioritizing their spot in the lottery this summer. It's the harsh reality no franchise wants to hear, but it has proven to work for numerous teams, such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 2025 NBA Champions.